Originally Posted By koobar Al Lutz mentions the Pirates expansion in his 1/9/07 update: <a href="http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al010907a.htm" target="_blank">http://www.miceage.com/allutz/ al010907a.htm</a> Personally, I'd hope that it would come sooner. 2010 seems an awful long time. Lee, any truth to these statements?
Originally Posted By leemac It sounds like Al (or his "insider") has just seen the blueprints that are in WDI as he is scant on details. The initial plan is as grandiose and large in scale as Al outlines but it hasn't been approved internally and requires government approval ultimately.
Originally Posted By fredddy Yes, it's a good thong, but it is too far. The park should have opened with all those rides !
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It sounds interesting. If they do go along with the whole pirate area, I hope it becomes its own land. Having POTC, Fantasmic!, HM, and minor attractions all themed to pirates in one area seems like it would really have a different flavor than the rest of the area. Not that it is a bad thing at all, but I just think that they could really make the park look a lot more impressive if they really went all out on the new area, and didn't try to confine it to the Adventureland theming. This would also give the park another land to brag about, and they really need all the help that they can get there. The only thing that really worries me is the version of Fantasmic!. Obviously this version will be very different from either current version, and that could be very interesting to see. I hope that they are able to keep parts of it similar to the ones that we already have, since it is just full of classic Disney moments. I'm also a little worried about how much longer the pirate fad will continue, and how much it is catching on abroad. I guess a show would be easier to change than an attraction, especially if they have an alternate version written and choreographed (wheather using the DL or WDW version). Hopefully whatever they do will have good results, since that park could really stand to be generically beefed up.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I'd rather see a new pirates area done sort of like DL's NOS area. Meaning - Port Royal, a highly themed British colonial port town in the Caribbean nestled on the waterfront. Neat shops and dining. A Pirates and HM ride, with a small themed minor ride. I'd RATHER see a "regular" version of FANTASMIC then the Pirate themed version. This type of new themed area could really put HKDL on the map.
Originally Posted By Loomis Normally, I'd write this off to pure speculation, but there is some evidence to support this rumour. Firstly, there is currently some construction work being done behind Adventureland. They are clearing a MASSIVE amount of space back there, and this could be early prep work for the Adventureland expansion he speaks of. We have photos of that here: In his new column, Al Lutz mentions the possiblity of the famous ride being opened by 2010. <a href="http://www.hkdlsource.com/gallery/viewcat?cat=8" target="_blank">http://www.hkdlsource.com/gall ery/viewcat?cat=8</a> So, we have another rumour supported, this time, by some facts. Al's timing seems to be about right, and it makes good marketing sense. The timetable and schedule - in combination with the existing construction in the park - would seem to indicate that this is definitely a possibility.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 This sounds absolutely amazing to me. This is the kind of thing that could set HKDL apart from the rest. It really could be like the equivalent of New Orleans Square at Disneyland. I also like the idea of keeping the Haunted Mansion in the theme and making it more like the DL original. A voodoo/African HM would have been interesing too, but the traditional one would fit very well into a Port Royal setting. I sure hope everything WDI has drawn up for this expansion actually happens.
Originally Posted By ChampDisney First of all I am very happy that HKDL has all these plans set up & I am very pleased that Pirates will make its way. I always knew though that this Pirates of the Caribbean version would be themed to the movies & it should be very interesting with a new Fantasmic! themed show thats about Pirates, HM is another one that I find thats going to be a great addition.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I agree these ideas sound great, I hope they come to fruition. I think it would be a shame, though, if they put this Pirates area into Adventureland rather than creating a whole Pirates/Port Royal land. It would be a good boost for HKDL to have its own, original land - plus there's heaps of stuff they could do in a Pirate area.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Of course--in another 20 years or so--they'll come out with a blockbuster movie about Tom Sawyer and want to do a Huck Finn overlay on the Pirate attractions they will have built there. It's the Disney way, you know!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros You know that overlay woudl just take over Tarzan's Island. It's only a natural place to do something like that.
Originally Posted By mstaft Regarding Mansion and vodoo and pirates- I think it all fits together quite well. Can't wait to hear more!
Originally Posted By pitapan16 Sounds awesome! Can't wait!...I will be making multiple trips to HKDL!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney FINALLY.....I can pin in a date I plan to visit HKDL ever again. What is it again?
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Soon as yer ready ta go ta the Nursin' Home, WorldDizzy, ducklin'! Better have yerself a good ol' walker by then--er else one a them there wheelchair things. Soon it'll be YER turn ta mow other folks down that gits in yer way!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Not sure if this is what it really is, but the artwork that Iger just released has a pirate area that could very well be the one rumored for the park. If it is, I hope that it is a seperate land, as it appears to have enough to support itself (definately by HKDL standards-not meant as an insult at all), and would take away from the current feeling that AL gives. <a href="http://corporate.disney.go.com" target="_blank">http://corporate.disney.go.com</a> /investors/annual_reports/2006/int/dint.html
